Japanese Fountain Pens
Japan is home to some of the most respected names in fountain pens, including great brands like Sailor, Pilot (and their luxury Namiki brand) and Platinum.
As with other Japanese pens, Japanese fountain pens are known worldwide for their quality, and the attention to detail that goes into them, starting with even the most basic models. And at the more luxury end of the market, fountain pens are often made with craftsmanship passed down through generations, with the most painstaking detail and artistic skill.
When choosing a nib, keep in mind that Japanese nibs tend to be finer than western nibs, so you may want to choose a bit wider than you usually would - fans of fine nibs usually love Japanese pens!
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Japanese Fountain Pens FAQ
How are Japanese nib sizes different?
In general, Japanese fountain pen nibs are finer than Western nibs. But it can be more complicated than that. Some Japanese fountain pens use nibs from one of the big German nib makers, so they may be wider than you’d expect for a Japanese pen. But even in these cases, sometimes those nibs are specifically made *for* the Japanese market, so they may be closer to ‘Japanese sizes’.
Some of these are so expensive! Am I supposed to rob a bank?
No. Please don’t do that.
It’s true that some Japanese fountain pens can be very expensive, but these are most often the very finely-crafted collector’s pens, made by artisans, often with decades of experience of their craft. Techniques like Maki-e, where tiny pieces of gold leaf are hand placed into layers of lacquer, built up painstakingly to make patterns or pictures. These pens can be beautiful works of art in themselves, but there are usually standard models with much more plain finishes, which will work just the same, and can range from quite affordable, to only needing to rob a quite small bank.
No, seriously, please don’t, it was a joke.